Annie Merritt

The Native Fishing Association (NFA) is pleased to invite you to attend the first annual BC Young Aboriginal Fishers to be held on January 26-28, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel, in Richmond, BC.

This conference is for active fishermen under 40/45 years old that are trying to build fishing careers and/or fishers that have experience on a vessel and are looking at becoming more involved in the industry. So, share this with your family and friends.

Conference Focus

The conference will bring together fishermen from around the province with the goal of creating a space to network with peers and share information about ways to build successful and diversified fishing operations to navigate today’s changing industry. The NFA would also like to receive input and guidance from you on how government programs are working and where we, as a community-based organization, can best put our resources to support you.

Agenda

The Agenda is being developed based on feedback that the Native Fishing Association (NFA) received from interviews with some young fishermen. The conference will focus on the opinions and ideas of early-career fishermen like yourself through panel and peer group discussions. The participants will:

Meet and discuss with fellow peers ways in which to diversify fishing skills and experiences

Please contact the NFA if you are interested in attending at 604-913-2997 or reception@shoal.ca

They invite you to consider first any agencies that might be able to support your travel costs for this professional development opportunity. Huu-ay-aht has some funding available through the Education department. If there are none, the Native Fishing Association have travel reimbursement applications available now. Please feel free to contact Natasha at 604-913-2997 or licencebank@shoal.ca for more information.

Huu-ay-aht First Nations effortsLarry Johnson, President of the Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Development Corporation (NSDC), and Annie Merritt, our Employment and Training Policy Analyst, are working with a group of other local organizations to develop and promote an Aboriginal Apprenticeship in Commercial Fishing program this year. There will be a full article on the upcoming program in our next issue of Uyaqḥmis.

This is Bike to Work Week and two Huu-ay-aht First Nations staff members are taking part and pedaling to work. Annie Merritt, Policy Analyst for Employment and Training, and Ian Benoit, Policy Coordinator, have been biking to their respective offices all week.

Annie has been involved in Cycle Alberni, a local organization that started in March. “Our group launched Bike to Work Week as our first initiative since the timing aligned well with the provincial initiative,” she says. Annie points out that Bike to Work Week happens all across the province in different towns/cities. While some funding and online sign-up services etc. are provided by the provincial government, the initiative depends on local groups to organize the logistics.

“My main contribution has been designing various posters for the Bike to Work and Bike to School programs. One of our next steps once BWW is over is to begin mapping the different bike racks in town so that we can determine where the gaps are and potentially partner with businesses to address these gaps. I got involved because I have been a commuter cyclist for at least 10 years, and I am passionate about cycling as a way of checking off all the boxes: getting exercise, having fun, saving money on gas, and getting around in an environmentally friendly way.”

Ian says, “This is the first time I have ever done Bike to Work Week. I think it is a fun way to work some exercise into your day, while also giving people an excuse to experiment with a more sustainable lifestyle.”

According to Biketowork.ca, Bike to Work Week (BTWW) began in Greater Victoria in 1995 with a core group of commuter cyclists committed to raising the profile of commuter cycling. Approximately 500 people participated that year. In 2014, more than 44 regions/communities took part with the following stats:
– 25,000 Participants
– 5,963 First-time commuter cyclists
– 3,000+ Workplaces participated
– 955,110 Kilometres were cycled
– 207,068 Kilograms of CO2 were saved from entering the atmosphere
– 28,653,303 Calories were burned
– $61,747 In Gas saved

Remember that on June 10, The Huu-ay-aht team will be pedaling too. This time for the Heart & Stroke Foundation that is raising funds to increase research for cardiovascular disease and stroke. This bike is 10’x33’, can be ridden by 29 people and weighs 2000 lbs. Join us and together we will improve the statistics of survival: http://support.heartandstroke.ca/site/TR/BigBike2015/BB_General_2015?team_id=9429&pg=team&fr_id=1188

The LNG Committee is a new committee. It is anticipated that the LNG Committee will meet bi-monthly to review reports, plans and presentations regarding the development of the LNG Project. The Committee will also provide advice and recommendations to Huu-ay-aht Executive Council, Ha’wiih Council and the People’s Assembly. Materials being reviewed will include technical and project plans, communication and engagement plans, environmental reports, status updates and options analysis. A Terms of Reference for the Committee will be developed once it is established.

Citizenship Committee

The Huu-ay-aht Citizenship Committee is an existing committee and is looking for one additional Committee Member. The Citizenship Committee meets once a month and is responsible for reviewing and making decision on all applications for enrollment.

If you are interested in participating on the LNG Committee and/or Citizenship Committee, please submit a one-page cover letter outlining why you interested along with your current resume to lawclerk@huuayaht.org by 4 pm on Friday, March 27, 2014. If you require assistance with the cover letter or resume, please contact Annie Merritt in the Port Alberni Government Office at 250-723-0100.